San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-10-01


Dan Gulliverr' cried the magistrate,
as the lights were brought, and he could
see our faces, ''you are prisoner Dear
mel dear mer'
81 asked for the prisoner to be COM
mitted for trial at the next Dorchester as
sizes, on charge Of smuggling We
caught him in the act"
''Ta-ta-ta! Fair and easy?' said the
magistrate. you forget, sir, that l am
to hear the case This way-this way.
Oh, Dan CULVER! what blow! what a
blow for all of usr'
He led the way into the dining room,
where was his great chair Of justice, in
which he placed himself.
Caught, sir, landing cargo of brandy
in Rousdon bay" said the officer. ''Do
you wish to hear eyidenceS"
evidence, sir? OF course wish to
hear evidence, and all the evidence you
have to offer, can assure you. Do you
think that respectable people-yeomen-
substantial farmers, like my friend Dan
CULVER and his sons-are to be hailed off
to prison on your ipse dixit' Ta-ta-tal
Call your evidence"
There was a general smile at the men
ton of Dams occupation. Everybody, of
course, knew exactly what his calling
was Even the officer, Lieut.. Pollard,
drank no branky except what came from
Dams secret cellars.
One after the other, the men were called
forward by the lieutenant. Each deposed
the same thing. They had marched to
Rousdon bay by order of the captain,
meaning Lieut.. Pollard; they waited
under shelter of the cliff from 2 o'clock
till or thereabouts; then the Dancing
Polly sailed into the hay, and they cap
tured the crew, consisting of the four
prisoners.
When the lieutenant had called half a
dozen witnesses, the justice asked him if
he had anything else to depose.
Nothing MORE" replied the officer.
'Isn't that enough? You can hear the
same story from the whole sixteen"
mo, sir" said the magistrate-and I
thought | saw a twinkle in his eye as he
raised the important objection-''no, sir;
it is not enough. You have proved to me
that Dan CULVER and the three other
prisoners were on board boat which you
believe to be, and which, in the absence
Of evidence to the contrary, we may as
sumo to be, the Dancing Polly. You had
an undOubted right, as an officer of his
majesty's revenue, to board that vessel.
Where, in my opinion, you exceeded your
duty was in Selling the prisoners for you
have not proved that there was anything
on board to justify that violent measure
Prove smuggling, sir, or shall let the
prise ers go and dismiss the case"
There was a sensation In the court. The
officer looked down abashed. He had
actually, in his zeal to seize a well known
and notorious smuggler, omitted the most
necessary portion of his case-proof of the
contraband carriage. He was actually so
eager to bring his prisoners to the magis-
trate that he forgot to carry with him his
pieces de conviction.
Under the circumstances, therefore, I"
said the justice, with q great sigh of re-
lief, 81 shall dismiss the prisoners, unless
you can at once produce evidence of snug
Cling"
Dan smiled. VIII laughed aloud. Job
and Jephthah nudged each other with
their elbows, and became solemn beyond
what is natural in young men. Lieut..
Pollard looked, in fact-if one can say so
OF a gallant officer who afterward fell
fighting the battles of his country
foolish.
II could send back to Rousdon bay"
he said, land cause to be brought kegs
from the cargo of the Dancing Polly.n
flush, manp' said the Justice. t'Who
is to prove that those kegs were there
when you boarded the craftY''
The revenue men looked at each other
and laughed, glad TO find that Dan Guilt
yer was going to escape. Only the captain
looked disconnected.
rand now" said Mr.. MalIock. rising
To be COHtTRUfd1